Reuss Sees “Huge Opportunity” In Small Pickup Trucks
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When the current generation Chevrolet Colorado posts lower fuel economy numbers than the larger and more powerful Silverado, it’s easy to realize that something is a little backwards. Looking forward, General Motors will offer the all-new and hopefully much-better-in-everything Colorado that recently launched in Thailand, here in the United States.
Executed properly, the new Colorado and Silverado should display much less — if any — overlap. But even as the two trucks prepare to try a new dance on the same floor without running into each other, GM North American President Mark Reuss forcasts “a micro-segmentation of what the bandwidth is of a pickup truck,” according to a report from Automotive News.
We would like to translate the quote as saying that there will be a new market segment emerging (reemerging?) below the mid-sized pickup, and we have every right to wildly speculate that vehicles such as the rumored all-new Chevrolet El Camino or perhaps even the GMC Granite CPU will show themselves in the American market in the not-too-distant future.
Source: Automotive News
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This has to be a Chevrolet, and really should be an exclusive. GM has to stop weaking GMCs so called “Professional Grade” with vehicles like Terrain and Granite that only serve to siphon off Chevrolet sales and stick to trucks worthy of the name, and priced high enough above Chevrolet so they don’t just compete for the same buyer
Carsmylife, Cafe rules probably don’t apply to GM as a whole but to each brand specifically, thus GMC becoming less of what you want and more of what regulations are telling it to be…
carsmylife, we at GM are trying to enrich each brand with products that do display and promote their heritage, Both chevy and GMC have had smaller vehicles like the Luv truck and the gmc s-15 and sonoma, this being said we are not looking to just brand the same car or truck to differant brands without that vehicle meeting the goals set out by each brand, chevy will have a small truck in the colorado, and gmc will go in a slightly differant direction with its new products to make as much variablity available to the public with the most economies of scale being used. no one wants gmc to steal sales from chevy and thus the products have to vary, Do you want gmc to get a new canyon and chevy not to get one as you said gmc is the truck division? we are working hard to make GMC the professiona grade division and I think you will like the future products that are being designed now for the future. cars are not just my life they are my livelyhood and we all take the rebirth of GM seriously and we try to listen to as much feedback as we can. Hope this helps?
I drive a 16 year-old Toyota T100. Even though my current truck gets 19 mpg on most days – it is a heavy frame and underpowered for it’s weight. Since my truck runs great – I’ve thought about what would make me jump brands and buy a pickup that supports American jobs and our economy. GM’s current quality improvements get my attention, but not as much as breakthrough, world-changing tech like the Volt. A PHEV truck, midsized, not compact – would DEFINATELY get my attention. Colorado is the size for my suburban homeowner lifestyle – a four genset with an electric motor could make me buy a new truck. I also like that GM is trying to innovate. I can see a bit of Honda Ridgeline-type thinking in a unibody midsize all-rounder. These photos of the Granite-CPU bed show innovative thinking. GM has parlayed the side door bed concept before in show trucks yet never carried through with it. Things that would be great: 1) Storage other than seating area. Ridgline’s trunk is very handy. Dodge RAM’s rail storage is not well thought-out, how can one use a canopy and still access this extra storage? 2) A small X-tra cab option, perhaps with a “reach-through” feature to access rear storage. 3) Configurable bed rail tie downs – run the length of the bed. 4) Steps – Ford’s step is innovative, yet today’s trucks are so tall one needs a side step built in. Perhaps one that can attach to the frame and slide out for side access to bed. 5) Turbo clean diesel options. 6) GIVE US AN INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION ala: Dodge RAM! 1000’s of bad backs and sore bodies deserve a rear suspension that wasn’t originally designed in the Old West for chuckwagons! Leaf springs may have worked in the past but it’s time for new thinking.7) Auto lowering ride – over 40 mph, I’ve proposed this for the ELR or a Buick “Electra” version of Volt to raise CS and AER mileage. Lower mass = lower drag coefficient = better mileage. 8) AERO – studies show men want a diesel truck/tough/manly big beastly square nose. Sadly this means you have to give up aerodynamics and mileage. I propose an interchangeable nose that can be optioned to customers who value mileage and efficiency over a percieved masculine image. Honda opted to put a square nose on Ridgeline and Pilot and it makes them wallow on the freeway, and take a big mileage hit – for appearance. 9) Diesel genset PHEV or EREV would have me reaching for my wallet.
There’s room here to trump Ford rather badly and set them on their heels. Ford makes it’s Ranger 2 in South Africa and sells it everywhere BUT North America. Ford stopped it’s planning for a V-6/Ecoboost 4 “F-100” because some at Dearborn felt it had to have a 7600 lb. tow rating. This is stinkin’ thinkin’ since us suburbanites tow jetskis, snowmobiles, dirtbikes, quads and 17-19′ boats that don’t need such a rating – we’d rather have economy and efficiency because this vehicle acts as a commuter for many. Since Colorado’s manufacturing facility is on it’s way – Ford will be way behind as it has to rush a NA version of Ranger 2 for this market.
GM – NEW THINKING got me saving up for my Volt – and will trade in our Prius. If GM is truly “the new GM” it will prosper on the back of innovative, outside-the-box ( no pun ) thinking in trucks, SUVs ( MPV5!!!!! ) and other segments. Get me out of my aging Toyota and into a GM product – but this is what it’s gonna take.
James i think you will find that we will have new products that will meet your future needs and by your writing desires. we are hard at work on a 4 mode hybird for full size trucks that is developing into a nice package with great attributes and as far as some of your thoughts we look at all advice and try to do what is both practicle and feasable. we do look at alternative technology and we feel we are the leader with the volt and also with the 2mode version in our trucks, with much more coming out in the near future like 4 mode and diesel and start stop and many other that i cannot talk about but i hope you will like we want your business.
Always thought there was a segment void in the pick up truck market. New full size trucks are just to big for urban life styles. I own a machine shop we manufacture crankshafts, I need some kind of truck or utility vehicle but not a 5500lb full size. I have a 2004 Sierra 1500 short bed & have owned trucks for years but am getting a little “trucked out”. I was excited about the return of the El Camino (aka Holden Ute) that type of car/truck would be perfect for my needs. Fun to drive, better fuel economy & could carry enough weight & will fit in my garage. So the whole on again off again thing with the El Camino has left me disappointed. I need to replace my truck, even thought of getting a Cadillac CTS-V sport wagon (to pricey) & do not like SUV’s
How many other guys out there feel the same as I do? What gives GM I need to know!!
I see a huge opportunity in the small truck market too.. but see so much more potential than the Granite CPU. I imagine a trucklet on the frame of the Chrevy Cruze, but 2 door, 5 seater with a tiny hard bed that opens into the cab (via midgate) and out the back to a tailgate. with the gate and seats down you can slide in sheet of plywood. With the mid and tail gates closed you can still haul a lawnmower, bags of mulch, concrete or whatver mess you don’t want inside. A re-inforced frame allows you to pull 3500lbs and it would be impressive if something that small and efficient could haul an ATV or even a 700lb harley in the back somehow! Oh yeah.. all this and it can do 30mpg in the city and drive your wife and kids around if the family van is in the shop.
Give it a diesel as well!
Attention! Attention! Economy rear wheel drive pickup with a smaller payload and towing.
Lead don’t follow like sheep or you will fail.
Here is a thought …. if the Chevy Tornado sold in Mexico can be sold in the U.S. why not offer it. If the specs would be close to what say the Sonic or Cruze are it would fill our needs at the horse farm. We like the Chevy Orlando and would like one of those as well. We’re looking at a few used HHRs, bur we’re seeing more abused HHRs over used models.